Magnet controlled switch



June'll, 1935. v H. HUBBELL. JR 2,004,114

MAGNET CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed July 29, 1952 I0 jixsahazz Patented June11, 1935 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in control means,and has particular relation to a magnet controlled switch.

An object of the invention is to provide a control means for shifting amember to operate a switch, valve or the like, and which means will notbe subject to noticeable wear even after very long and constant usage.

A further object is to provide a means as indicated and which requirespractically no force for its operation and so may be operated by a verydelicate thermostat or the like.

Another object is to provide a magnet controlled switch wherein a rapidmake and break is obtained.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the inventionis shown. However, it will be understood that the invention is notlimited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations andmodifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scopeof the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is-a top plan view illustrating a control means constructed inaccordance with the invention the said means being shown in the form ofa switch and a circuit being indicated;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view the same being taken looking from theforward edge of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the control means and switch on anenlarged scale showing the parts in the other position from Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view illustrating one means of operating thecontrol means of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a suggested arrangement for operating thepresent control by means of a thermostat; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a modification.

In the drawing the control means is illustrated in the form of a switchand at I0 is shown a board or panel of insulating material to which issecured as by means of screws l l a substantially U-shaped bracketmember I! formed of conducting material and to which a wire 13 may besecured as by a binding screw ll. An element or member I5 in the form ofa switch arm is pivotally mounted by the plate or panel In and thebracket 12 and includes a portion disposed between the arms of thebracket and provided with upper and lower projections or lugs 16 havingbearing in the bracket and in the panel respectively whereby the memberis pivotally mounted and electrically connected with the bracket and 5through the bracket with the wire l3.

A pair of brackets l1 and I8 are secured to panel 10 in spaced relationas by means of screws 19 and 20, and these brackets include up-turnedend portions 2| and 22 through which are threaded screws 23 and 24, thesaid screws being arranged in opposed relation and adjustable toward andfrom one another. As will be apparent from the drawing, the free endportion 25 of the member I5 is arranged between the screws 23 and 24,and it will be understood that the said screws act as stops or limitingmeans to control the movement of the member about its. pivot. Obviously,as these screws are adjusted away from and toward one another greater orlesser movement of member l5 will be permitted.

A bracket 26 is secured on the upper side of the panel H] as by means ofscrews 21, and this bracket includes an up-turned end portion 28 throughwhich is threaded a screw 29. Anchored at one end to the screw 29, andat its other end to an attaching piece 30 carried by the member 15, is acoil spring 3|, which spring is tensioned to constantly urge the memberabout its pivot in a direction to have its free end portion engage thestop or limiting screw 23 before referred to. The screw 29 may beadjusted through the up-turned end portion 28 of bracket 25 to increaseor lessen the tension of the spring 3|.

The bracket [8 includes a relatively long portion on the panel l0, andthis bracket is formed of electrical conducting material and has a wire32 connected therewith as by a binding screw 33. The screw 24 on bracketI8 is electrically connected with the bracket, and it will now beapparent that when the free end portion 25 of member or switch arm [5engages said screw 9. circult-will be completed between the wires l3 and.32. In this circuit is included a battery or other source of electricalenergy 34 and any suitable signal or other mechanism, such as-anelectric counter or the like 35.

Member or switch arm l5 carries an armature 36 attached thereto as byrivets or the like 31, r and insulated therefrom as by a strip ofinsulating material 38 by collars 39 of insulating material whichcollars are disposed about the rivets 31 whereby said rivets passthrough the arm l5, and by insulating washers 39a between the headscured'to the panel ID as by screws 4| and this bracket includesupstanding end portions 42 rotatably mounting a rod 43 which at itsforward end carries a permanent horseshoe magnet 44 arranged inrelatively close relation to the arma-= ture 35.

To the opposite end of the rod there is, attached a head or operatingportion 45 to which may be secured any suitable operating means as willlater be described. The relation of the parts and the tension orstrength of spring 38 with relation to the strength of the magnet 44 issuch that when the parts are positioned as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 themagnet will have sufiicient attraction for the armature to overcome thepull of the spring 3i and the switch arm l5 will be rocked about itspivot to bring its free end portion into engagement with the screw 24thus closing a cir-' cult between the wires I3 and 32. It willparticularly be noted in Fig. 1 that while theswitch arm 85 has engagedthe combined stop-and contact screw 24 the armature 36 has not come intoengagement with the magnet 44. The screw 24 is preferably set to preventthe armature engaging the magnet so that there is no contact or frictionbetween the parts to cause wear and whereby the armature is preventedfrom freezing to the magnet, but the device will operate if the armatureshould engage'the magnet.

Rod 43 is freely turnable with the magnet 44 and this rod when shiftedmay move the magnet from its position in Fig. l .to that in which it isshown in Figs. 3 and 4 or some intermediate position. This brings themagnet to such a position that its attraction for the armature 35 isreduced, and when it becomes less than the pull of spring 3! this springacts to shift the switch arm or member l5 away from the screw 24 andinto engagementkwith the screw 23. The make and break actionis rapidsince the spring does not begin to shift the arm 15 until the springovercomes themagnetic attraction between the armature and magnet 44 andwhen this occurs the spring snaps the arm into engagement with screw 23.Also, when the magnet is'shifted into a position where its attractionfor the armature overcomes the pull of the spring asshown in Fig. 1 theswitch arm is rocked. on its pivot to engage the screw 24 and close thecircuit.

The circuit may be very rapidly closed and opened by rotating the rod 43and consequently the magnet 44, or the. same effect may be accomplishedby oscillating the magnet and the switch will operate on the magnetbeing oscillated through an arc of considerably less than 90 dependingon the strength of the spring and the design of the various elements.Figs. 1, 2, and 5 suggest a means for oscillating the magnet and thismeans includes a head 45 attached to the part 45 and carrying a crankarm 4? to which is pivotally connected a pitman 43 eccentricallyattached or pivoted to a rotatable wheel or disc 49. Rod 43 has bearingat only two points and the entire device may be of relatively lightconstruction whereby it is turnable with the utmost ease, friction andwear being reduced to a minimum.

Since the device may be easily rotated or oscillated it will be apparentthat it may be operated by a very delicate thermostat since thethermostat itself is not required to throw the switch but merely to rockthe magnet through a small arc. Such an arrangement is illustrated inFig. 6 wherein a head 50 is attached to the rod 43, the said head havinga slot 5i receiving a, pin

2,004,114 of the rivets and the area. A bracket is se- 52 carried by andforming part of a thermostat 53. The broken lines in this figure suggestthe action of the thermostat; and it will be apparent that it isnecessary to rock the rod 43 and the magnet 44 only through a small arcto have the magnet act on the armature and draw the arm l5 into circuitclosing position and to have the magnet again release the armaturepermitting the spring to shift the arm out of circuit closing position.

In Figs. 1 to 5 a spring is shown as the means for moving the switchmember in the opposite direction from the magnet 44. I am, however, notlimited to this means as others may be employed. In Fig. 7 I have showna second magnet 53 on the opposite side of the movable member l 5 andattracting an iron or steel armature 54 insulated from member l5 thesame as armature 36. The magnet 53 is mounted so that it may be adjustedtoward and from the member l5 whereby it may be positioned for bestoperation. It may have a threaded extension 55' extending through amounting bracket 56 and secured in adjusted position by nuts 51; Itshould be adjusted so as to be slightly spaced from the armature 54 whenthe switch member I5 is held by this magnet against the stop or contact23. The magnet 53 will be larger or smaller, that is stronger or weaker,than magnet 44 depending on its position with respect to the pivot IS.The two magnets should be so proportioned and positioned that whenmagnet 44 is in the position of Fig. 7 the switch member is shifted byit, but when the magnet 44 is turned as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 themagnet 53 will have the greater influence on member l5 and will shift itin the opposite direction.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that since the deviceis so easily operated there is very little friction and consequentlyvery little wear so that there is small likelihood of the device wearingout. While the disclosure specifically relates to a switch it will beappreciated that the arm I5 might be used for turning a valve or thelike; In the form of a switch the device finds ready application incounting machines where a large number of makes and breaks are required.Further, the device may as pointed out be operated by a thermostat, andsince the device may be operated with a minimum of effort a verydelicate thermostat may be used. A rapid make and break is had becausethe switch arm is not shifted in either direction until there isavailable a force sufficient to shift it quickly. It will be evidentthat the eifect or pull of the magnet on the armature is varied byarelative turning movement between the magnet and the armature, andtherefore these parts may be reversed and the armature may be turnedrelative to the magnet.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a movable member, means to shift said member in onedirection, an armature connected with said member, means to shift saidmember in the opposite direction comprising a magnet having a polemovable adjacent said armature to vary its effect thereon, said magnetmovable about an axis extending substantially parallel with said pole,and means for shifting the magnet about said axis to operate saidmember.

2. In combination, a movable member, means to shift said member in onedirection, an armature connected with said member, means to shift saidmember in the opposite direction comprising a magnet having a polemovable adjacent said armature to vary its effect thereon, said magnetmovable about an axis extending substantially parallel with said pole,means for shifting the magnet about said axis to operate said member,and means to prevent movement of said member into position to bring thearmature into engagement with the magnet.

3. In combination, a movable switch member, means to shift said memberin one direction, an armature connected with said switch member, amagnet movable to and from a position to attract said armature to shiftsaid member in the opposite direction, said magnet including a pair ofpoles, means mounting said magnet for movement about an axis extendingbetween said poles, and means to shift said magnet about said axis tooperate said member.

4. In combination, an operating member, means movably mounting saidmember, a stop at each side of said member to limit its movement, meanstending to move said member in one direction, an armature on saidmember, a magnet having a pair of poles spaced apart a distance greaterthan one dimension of said armature and carried by a connecting portionand located adjacent said armature, means pivotally mounting theconnecting portion of said magnet whereby the magnet may be turned toand from a position to attract said armature portion and shift saidmember against the action of the second mentioned means, and one of saidstops arranged to prevent movement of said member into a position tobring its armature portion into engagement with the magnet.

5. In combination, a switch arm, means movably mounting said switch arm,a stop at each side of said switch arm to limit its movement, meanstending to move said switch arm in one direction, an armature on saidswitch arm, a magnet having a pair of poles spaced apart a distancegreater than a dimension of said armature and carried by a connectingportion and located adjacent said armature, means pivotally mounting theconnecting portion of said magnet whereby the magnet may be turned toand from a position to attract said armature and shift said switch armagainst the action of the second men tioned means, one of said stopsarranged to be engaged by said switch arm in each of its extremeconditions, and one of said stops comprising a contact.

6. In combination, a movable member, means to shift said member in onedirection, an armature connected to said member, and means to shift saidmember in the opposite direction comprising a magnet having spaced polesadjacent said armature, and means for turning said magnet about an axisat right angles to the armature to vary its pull on said armature.

7. In combination, a movable member, means to shift said member in onedirection, an armature connected to said member, and means to shift saidmember in the opposite direction comprising a substantially U-shapedmagnet mounted with its poles adjacent said armature, and means forturning said magnet about an axis at right angles to the armature tovary its effect thereon.

8. In combination, a movable member, a member mounted to turn about anaxis extending in the general direction of movement of the first member,an armature carried by one of said mem bers, a magnet carried by theother member hav-. ing spaced poles adjacent the armature, and

means for turning the second member relative to the first to vary theeffect of the magnet on the armature.

9. In combination, a movable switch member, a supporting member mountedto turn about an axis extending at substantially right angles to theplane of the first member, an armature carried by one of said members, amagnet carried by the other member having spaced poles adjacent thearmature, and means for turning said supporting member toyary the effectof the magnet on the armature.

10. In combination, a movably mounted switch arm, a stop at each side ofsaid arm to limit its movement, means tending to move said arm in onedirection, a magnet having a pair of poles arranged at one side of saidarm, means rotatably mounting said magnet on an axis passing betweensaid poles, an armature on the switch arm, said magnet adapted to beturned on said axis to and from a position to attract said armature andshift the switch arm against the action of the first mentioned means,one of said stops arranged to be engaged by the switch arm in eachextreme position of the latter, and one of said stops comprising acontact.

11. In combination, a movably mounted switch arm, a stop at each side ofsaid arm to limit its movement, means tending to move said arm in onedirection, a magnet having a pair of poles arranged at one side of saidarm, means rotatably mounting said magnet on an axis passing betweensaid poles, an armature on the switch arm, said magnet adapted to beturned on said 1 axis to and from a position to attract said armatureand shift the switch arm against the action of the first mentionedmeans, one of said stops arranged to be engaged by the switch arm ineach extreme position of the latter, said stop against which the switcharm is moved by the magnet comprising a contact, and said stopcomprising a contact arranged to prevent movement of the switch arm intoa position to bring the armature into engagement with the magnet.

12. In combination, a movably mounted switch arm, a stop at each side ofsaid arm to limit its movement, means tending to move said arm in onedirection, a magnet having a pair of poles arranged at one side of saidarm, means turnably mounting said magnet on an axis passing between saidpoles, an armature on the switch arm, said magnet adapted to be turnedon said axis to and from a position to attract said armature and shiftthe switch arm against the action of the first mentioned means, one ofsaid stops arranged to be engaged by the switch arm in each extremeposition of the latter, and each of said stops ad justable toward andfrom said switch arm.

13. In combination, a movably mounted switch arm, a stop at each side ofsaid arm to limit its movement, means tending to move said arm againstone of said stops, means for adjusting the effect of said means, amagnet having a pair of poles arranged at one side of said arm, meansturnably mounting said magnet on an axis passing between said poles, anarmature on the switch arm, and said magnet adapted to be turned on saidaxis to and from a position to attract said armature and shift theswitch arm into engagement with the other of said stops against theaction of the first mentioned means.

14. In combination, a movably mounted switch arm, a stop at each side ofsaid arm to limit its movement, means tending to move said arm intoengagement with one of said stops, means for adjusting the efiect ofsaid means, a magnet having a pair of poles arranged at one side of saidarm, means turhabiy mounting said magnet on an axis passing between saidpoles, an armature on the switch arm, said magnet adapted to be turnedon said axis to and from a position to attract said armature and shiftthe switch arm into engagement with the other of said stops against theaction of the first mentioned means, and

each of said stops adjustable toward and, from,

said switch arm. 7

I HARVEY HUBBELL, JR.

